For the six weeks Abreham Zemedagegehu — an Ethiopian deaf man charged with theft — was jailed in Arlington County, he was not given access to a sign language interpreter. This caused him to miss meals, recreation times and announcements from his jailers, he alleged in his complaint.

Zemedagegehu, who speaks with American Sign Language, has limited English writing skills and was homeless, said that he didn't know why he was being detained and was not given access to his medication or phone calls.

Akin Gump attorneys, who met Zemedagegehu in a soup kitchen where they were volunteering, filed a complaint against the Arlington County Sheriff on his behalf in January 2015 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.